First and Last (16 page)

“We’ll figure it out together.”

Grabbing her hand, I place it at the base of my dick. She rises up on her knees to line it up with her entrance.

“Wait. I’ve got some condoms in my wallet,” I tell her.

She shakes her head, confusing me. “It’s okay. There’s a clinic on campus, so I got on the pill.”

“Are you sure?”

She nods before slowly sitting back on me. My eyes roll into the back of my head as I absorb the incredible sensation while my hands go to her hips with a firm grip. “Damn, baby, you feel amazing. You okay?” I ask, knowing this is only our second time. I’m not sure if it still hurts.

“Yeah, it’s a little tight, but I’m fine.”

“Trust me, I know it’s tight,” I say with a smirk. She smiles back down at me with a slight blush before moving and rocking her hips. Her hands are placed beside my head, holding herself up. “Sit up for me,” I encourage. She does as I ask and I bask in the view.

Her breasts look fuller as they bounce with her movements. I let her move at her own pace, wanting her comfortable as she rides me. Between seeing her take control and the feel of her with no barrier, I’m about to go out of my mind. My hand goes to her clit and rubs it, making sure she falls apart right along with me.

Her chest rises and falls quicker, her mouth parts on a moan, and her head falls back. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my whole damn life. My toes curl, trying to fight off my impending orgasm. It’s not long before she can’t sit up and falls on top of me, shuddering with each wave of pleasure that runs through her body. My balls tighten and I follow right after. We cling to each other like two people who will never meet again, savoring the moment of reuniting in an emotional, physical, and intimate way.

She rolls off of me and lays her head on my chest. I wrap my arms around her and draw little circles on her shoulder with my fingertips. A second later, she starts to giggle. “What?” I ask.

“That was quite a hello,” she replies.

I chuckle under my breath. “What can I say? I like to leave an impression.”

We lie on her small bed while I rub her back gently, enjoying our time together. Neither of us speaks for a while, but we don’t have to. There’s never been this need to fill the silence and it’s never awkward. We’re content being next to each other, and with the distance, it makes me so damn happy.

“How are things with Luke? You like living there?” she asks.

I don’t meet the age requirements to be a paid firefighter, so I’m volunteering until I turn twenty-one and can apply for a position. Because I don’t get paid during this time, Luke offered to let me live with him free of charge. Once he finished his accounting degree, he moved back home and got an apartment. With volunteering and taking online classes toward my fire sciences degree, I don’t have much time to work a paying job. So for now, I’m getting some experience and schooling under my belt to increase my odds of being recruited.

“It’s good. We get along, so there’s not much to complain about.”

Only there is. Our apartment has become a revolving door for the women he brings in. There’s a different one every other night. Normally, it wouldn’t bother me, but when he starts letting his hook ups leak into the common areas, we have issues.

“That’s great,” she says with a smile.

I’m back to missing Mia like crazy. Even though our time together was amazing, I couldn’t help but notice the differences building between us. Not bad differences, but she was definitely creating a separate life in Ohio, and I’m trying to make sure I always have a place in it.

The front door opens followed by fake giggling. I roll my eyes knowing Luke has brought another bimbo home, but it’s his place so there’s not much I can say.

“Hey, bro,” he says.

“Hey.”

“You didn’t say your brother was so cute. How old is he again?” I hear a girl ask from behind me. I don’t even turn around to acknowledge her.

“That’s because he has a girlfriend,” he tells her.

“That’s too bad. Where is she?” This time, a different girl is talking. I turn around and see two of them hanging on my brother’s arms. They’re both barely dressed in short skirts and tits hanging out. They might as well have EASY stamped on their foreheads.

“Don’t worry about it,” I respond, staring at them with a blank face. Right then, my phone rings. I dig it out of my pocket and smile when I see her name flash across the screen. “Hey, babe,” I answer, starting to walk away from this train wreck, but before I can make my escape, the second bimbo grabs my arm and stops me.

“Oooww, someone’s grumpy. I’ll bet me and Laurie could fix that for you,” she purrs. Her finger runs down my chest and I push it away.

“Uh, who was that?” Mia asks, the accusation clear in her voice.

“No one,” I grumble. When I get to my room, I shut and lock the door.

“That didn’t sound like no one. Do you have a girl over?”

“No, it’s not like that. She’s with Luke.”

“Who’s Laurie then?”

“She’s with Luke too.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, knowing how this sounds.

“Really? You have two chicks in your apartment and both are with your brother? I’m not buying it. I wanna know what the hell is going on. Are you seeing someone else?”

“No! Luke brings girls back all the time, and tonight it just happened to be two. I was literally going back to my room when you called.”

“Going to your room to do what? It hasn’t even been a week since you left, Blake.”

“Mia, listen to me. Nothing. Is. Going. On. I thought you trusted me.” Now I’m getting pissed. I get her initial suspicions, but she should know me well enough to know I’d never betray her that way. “Do you want me to put my brother on the fucking phone and you can ask for yourself? I can’t control who he brings in here. It’s his place!”

She’s quiet for a while and at first I think she hung up. Finally, I hear her sigh through the line. “I’m sorry. I call and hear a girl talking like that and I’m missing you so much. My mind automatically went to the worst place. I trust you and know you’d never do that to me.”

“I wouldn’t. You know you’re it for me. I’d be wasting my time with anyone else.”

I might’ve put out that fire, but that would be only the beginning of our downward spiral.

November 2002

I
couldn’t wait until Thanksgiving to see her, so I took the weekend off and drove up. I miss her more than I thought I was capable of missing someone, but I’m terrified she’s slowly drifting away from me. She’s building this whole separate life, and it scares me to think eventually I won’t fit in it. When I suggested I come visit last minute, I think subconsciously I’m trying to stay present so she doesn’t forget about me, forget about us.

“What do you want to do for dinner?” I ask after she gets back to her dorm from her last class.

She shrugs. “I don’t care. I told Claire we might meet her at the Commons if that’s okay with you.”

I have to hide my disappointment because I really want to be alone with her. Our time is limited and dammit, I don’t want to share her with anyone else while I’m here. “Sure,” I say with a forced smile. She’s not looking at me, so she doesn’t notice.

Dinner is awkward. Not for Mia, but for me. I feel like a third wheel to her life. She talks about these people on the phone, but they’re treating me as an outsider. It’s a foreign feeling since I’ve never had problems making friends and blending easily into a group, but they’re stuffy, pretentious snobs and all I can wonder is how the hell Mia gets along with them. I have nothing in common with them and they make no effort to bring me into their conversations, despite trying to jump in here and there.

And Mia doesn’t even notice.

“Oh my God, Mia. Have you found something to wear to Ben’s party next weekend? We gotta make sure we’re lookin’ hot.”

Mia looks at me from the corner of her eye and shifts in her seat. Funny I’ve never heard about this party before. “Uh, not yet. I’ll probably just wear something I already have; jeans and boots or something.”

“Jeans and boots?” She curls up her lip. “This isn’t a nun’s convention. You need to wear something short and tight. Show off that hot little body you’re always hiding.”

My fists clench at my sides. “I think jeans are fine,” I mutter, glaring at Claire. “You know, since she already has a boyfriend and all.”

“Blake,” Mia whispers in warning with her hand on my leg. My attention turns back to her.

“What the hell is going on?” I ask quietly, trying hard not to make a scene. Who the hell is Ben and why does it feel like Mia was hiding this from me?

“Nothing, it’s just a stupid party. No big deal. I promise.” I’m not sure why she was looking so uncomfortable when Claire brought it up if it’s not an issue. I want to question her more, but Claire’s oblivious to our private moment and starts talking again.

“Are you going to the game tomorrow?” Claire asks.

Mia glances at me and then turns back toward her. “Uh, no. I mean, I can’t. Blake’s here so . . .”

“Oh, that’s a bummer. It’s going to be a good one too. Everyone will be there.”

“Yeah, but I can’t get Blake a ticket and he wouldn’t be able to sit with us in the student section.” Her voice is completely deflated and it almost pisses me off. What’s more important: seeing a football game, or spending time with me? What the hell?

“We can always watch it from your room and order in,” I offer up.

“Yeah, I guess.” She shrugs, looking at her plate. This isn’t their first home game, and she’s gone to all of them except this one, so I don’t see what the big deal is.

“That’s definitely not the same,” Claire says in her bitchy tone. “But your loss. It’s a shame you won’t be able to use your ticket.”

My attention turns to Mia, questioningly. “I got it before I knew you were coming,” she explains. I nod in acknowledgement.

“Oh my God, look who it is?” Claire says loudly. I look around until she stands and gives some guy a hug. He’s tall and lean with a tight shirt on under a blazer, khakis, and his hair gelled up. He looks like a douche. “Petey! Where the hell have you been all week?” she asks.

He has a seat next to her, which is across from Mia. “Ugh, you know I hate when you call me that. Say it with me, Claire. Pete. Just Pete.” Claire rolls her eyes, brushing him off. “I’ve been buried in research. I have this huge paper due Monday and I need to get it done before we go to the game tomorrow.”

“Well, we have a minus one. Mia won’t go.” Claire gives an exaggerated pout with puppy dog eyes. Does Mia not see how fucking fake this girl is?

“Why not?” He looks to Mia for an explanation.

“Because I’m here,” I answer for her. “You know? Her boyfriend. A guy who drove six fucking hours to see her. That’s why.”

Pete smirks and arches his eyebrow at me. “Forgive me, I didn’t realize she had a boyfriend. She’s never mentioned you to me.”

If looks could kill, I’d be digging him a hole right now.

“Pete, stop. You knew about Blake.” Mia rolls her eyes as if this dickhead isn’t trying to get under my skin.

“I’m kidding,” dickhead says. “I know all about you. You’re the reason Mia won’t say yes to going out with me.”

“The fuck?” I get up out of my chair and walk around to his side of the table.